Security fence with improved rail

ABSTRACT

A security fence has a horizontal rail to which pales are connected and are spaced apart along the rail. The rail is shaped so that it cannot be used as a stepping surface for an intruder.

[0001] The invention relates to a security fence. It is known to makesuch a fence to protect an establishment having articles to be keptsecure.

[0002] In one known style of fence, spaced apart metal posts calledpales are secured to one or more horizontal rails between end posts. Thepales may have the profile of a V, a corrugated W or corrugated D. Therail usually an L-shaped thick metal section and the pales are securedto the rail by bolts passed through aligned holes in the vertical leg ofthe rail and the pales. Typically the pales are spaced about 50 mmapart, and the exposed flat surface of the other leg of the rail couldbe used as a step by an intruder. The rails are made of relatively thickmetal sections for strength. This increases the cost of the rails. It isone object of this invention to provide a fence which avoids presentingan intruder with this step. It is another object of this invention toprovide rails of sufficient strength for the purpose specified.

[0003] In one aspect the invention provides a security fence comprisinggenerally vertical pales each secured by a bolt or the like to agenerally horizontal rail, the pales being spaced apart along the railwith gaps in between, the rail comprising a length of shaped metalsection having a thickness of about 2 mm to about 4 mm, the sectioncomprising a main web and at least one side wall which is above the mainweb and extends at an angle so that the gap portions of the rail betweenpales cannot be used by an intruder as a step.

[0004] Preferably the rail is of substantially channel shaped sectionhaving opposite side walls which make the rail rigid despite itsthinness.

[0005] In another aspect spikes are struck up from the upper side wallin the gaps, to act as an added deterrent to an intruder.

[0006] Preferably the pales abut the outer face of the web of the rail,and the side walls of the rail extend away from the rail on the side ofthe web remote from the pales.

[0007] Typically the pales extend a vertical distance above thehorizontal rail.

[0008] The pales are secured to the rail by bolts passing throughaligned holes, in the usual way.

[0009] In order that the invention may be well understood it will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, inwhich:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one security fence of theinvention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an end view of a rail shown in FIG. 1; and

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view from one end of another rail of theinvention.

[0013] The security fence comprises spaced upright parallel pales Pjoined to an upper and lower horizontal rails R which are connected attheir ends to end posts C. The pales extend beyond the upper rail. Thepales P are spaced apart by a distance leaving gaps G in between.According to this invention at least the upper rail R is formed fromcold rolled metal section, typically steel, to be of general channelshape comprising a main web 1 and opposite side walls 2,3. The sectionis from 2 to 4 mm thick, which is almost half the usual thickness of ahot rolled steel section rail. Fastener receiving holes 4 are formed atspaced apart locations in the main web 1 by which the pales P aresecured thereto and holes 4 a are present at each end for connection tothe end posts C. The upper side wall 2 extends at an angle to define aramp portion 5 to deter scaling of the assembly. The other side wall 3is relatively short and straight. The dimensions of the section areselected to provide a predetermined yield strength. As shown in FIG. 3,spikes 6 are struck up from the floor of the ramp portion 5 to deterintruders from attempting to use the rail portions G as a step to gainaccess into the fenced area.

[0014] The pales P are rolled from metal section. They may be of anyknown shape and have fastener receiving holes.

[0015] In use, the rails R are secured between end posts C. The pales Pare individually fastened onto the rail by aligning the fastening holeswith the holes 4 in the rail and passing bolts, not shown, through andsecuring them in place by threading on nuts, not shown. The pales P areabutted against the face of the web 1 opposite to the side walls 2,3.The rail is sufficiently rigid to withstand distortion under load. Theramp portion 5 extends upwardly away from the pales into the securedarea to prevent a thief from climbing over the fence by using the gapportion G as a step. The spikes 6 also act in this respect.

1. A security fence comprising two end posts, pales and at least onerail, wherein the pales are generally vertical and secured by bolt meansto one side of a generally horizontal rail, the pales being spaced apartalong the rail with gaps in between, the rail comprising a main web andat least one side wall, the pales abutting one face of the web of therail, the side wall extending above the web away from the rail on theside of the web remote from the pales at an angle selected so that thegap portions of the rail between pales cannot be used by an intruder asa step.
 2. A fence according to claim 1, wherein spikes are struck upfrom the upper sidewall in the gaps between the pales.
 3. A fenceaccording to claim 1, wherein the pales extend a vertical distance abovethe horizontal rail.
 4. A security fence comprising two end posts, palesand at least one rail, wherein the pales are generally vertical andsecured by a bolt means to one side of generally horizontal rail, thepales being spaced apart along the rail with gaps in between, the railcomprising a length of shaped metal section having a wall thickness ofabout 2 mm to about 4 mm, the section comprising a main web and at leastone side wall, which is above the main web and extends at an angle sothat the gap portions of the rail between pales cannot be used by anintruder as a step.
 5. A security fence rail comprising a main web andat least one side wall, which in use extends above the web at an anglethereto, wherein the angle is selected so that, in use, gap portionsbetween pales secured to the rail cannot be used by an intruder as astep.
 6. A fence rail according to claim 6, wherein spikes are struck upfrom the upper sidewall in the gaps.
 7. A fence rail according to claim6, comprising a length of shaped metal section having a thickness ofabout 2 mm to about 4 mm.